A construction worker suffered broken bones on Tuesday when he was thrown from equipment on Hammond Bridge and on top of a passing vehicle.

According to Kingsport Police Officer Dale Farmer, the incident occurred about 7:50 a.m.

A construction crew working on Fort Henry Drive's Hammond Bridge was preparing to inspect the structure with a boom truck. However, one of the safety poles used to support the vehicle was not properly lowered, causing it to shake violently.

Farmer says an operator on the back of the boom was thrown from his perch, and on top of a southbound pick-up truck that was crossing the bridge. The worker suffered serious injuries, including a possibly broken hip, but it could have been much worse.

"Due to the type of impact, with him landing on top of the pickup truck, that probably saved his life," Farmer said. "If not he probably would have went under the pickup truck and it would have been a fatal injury."